Sep 1, 2026Sep 1, 2026 Article, Featured

A Reflection on the CEHURD Moot Court Competition

– By Calvin Obita, Lawyer and Chief Clerk 11th CEHURD Moot

I had the privilege of serving as Chief Clerk in a highly impactful 11th Annual National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition organized by the Center for Health, Human Rights, and Development (CEHURD). The theme, “Balancing Competing Priorities in Championing Reproductive Rights and Gender Equality in Uganda,” could not have been more timely or relevant to the challenges we face as a nation.

In my role, I was responsible for facilitating the smooth running of the proceedings, which allowed me to interact closely with the distinguished panel of judges and the brilliant participants who put forth compelling legal arguments on some of the most pressing issues facing Uganda today. These included access to quality sexual and reproductive health services, discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, and the government’s responsibility in ensuring safe and legal access to reproductive healthcare, including the right to safe termination of pregnancy.

The moot problem was a poignant reflection of the real-world dilemmas in Uganda’s health and legal landscape. It tackled critical issues such as:

– The failure to provide adequate sexual and reproductive health services and how this violates constitutional guarantees of health rights.

– Discrimination in the workplace, particularly against pregnant women, and its broader impact on gender equality and women’s mental and physical health.

– The lack of laws and policies to ensure safe abortions, contributing to alarming maternal mortality rates, which remains a pressing concern.

– The unequal access to healthcare based on religious affiliations and how such disparities deepen existing inequalities in society.

Being part of this moot made me acutely aware of the delicate balance needed to champion reproductive rights while considering cultural, religious, and societal priorities. The legal arguments presented during the competition explored the tension between ensuring individual freedoms and health rights versus state and community interests, sparking thought-provoking discussions on how Uganda can move forward.
– Calvin

This experience not only sharpened my understanding of these issues but also reaffirmed the vital role of legal advocacy in addressing reproductive rights and gender equality in Uganda. The engagement and dedication of CEHURD in organising this moot reminded me of the importance of relentless advocacy in shaping a future where every individual has equal access to health rights, regardless of gender or circumstance.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to this significant platform, which has added so much to my professional growth and my appreciation of human rights law. Moving forward, I am inspired to continue engaging with these critical issues and supporting efforts that drive positive change in Uganda and beyond.

Aug 19, 2026Aug 20, 2026 Article, Featured

Rural Uganda’s Forensic Evidence Gap is Undermining Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence

By Judith Nakalembe

For many survivors of sexual violence in rural Uganda, the journey to justice is often obstructed not only by the trauma of the violation itself, but also by gaps in the systems meant to support them. One of the most significant challenges is the limited availability of forensic services, particularly the collection and testing of sexual assault swabs. These services are critical to gathering scientific evidence that can strengthen investigations and prosecutions.

The absence of accessible forensic services in many rural districts can weaken cases that might otherwise result in successful prosecutions. When crucial evidence cannot be collected, preserved or analysed within the required timeframe, investigations may be left without the scientific evidence needed to corroborate a survivor’s account or connect a suspect to an offence.

A case involving a 14-year-old girl from Mayuge District illustrates the challenges faced by survivors in rural communities. The girl was defiled while on her way to school. Although she could not identify the perpetrator by sight, she was able to remember his voice. Importantly, semen was found on her clothing, potentially providing valuable forensic evidence to support the case.

The suspect was arrested, giving the survivor and her family hope that justice would be achieved. However, the investigation faced a major obstacle: the need to conduct a sexual assault swab test to obtain corroborative forensic evidence. The police were informed that the required testing could only be conducted at the Wandegeya laboratory in Kampala, despite the offence having occurred in Mayuge District.

This requirement created additional barriers within the justice process. Transporting a police officer and evidence to Kampala requires financial resources that many rural police stations do not have. For survivors and their families, many of whom live in economically vulnerable communities, meeting these costs can be impossible.

As a result, some families eventually withdraw from pursuing cases, not because they do not want justice, but because the process becomes too expensive, prolonged and emotionally exhausting. When cases are abandoned for these reasons, perpetrators of sexual violence may escape accountability, while survivors’ confidence in the justice system is further undermined.

The challenge also affects police officers responsible for investigating sexual offences. Even where investigators are committed to pursuing cases, the lack of nearby forensic facilities limits their ability to build strong cases. Delays in accessing evidence collection and testing services can compromise investigations and reduce the likelihood of successful prosecution.

Civil society organisations have played an important role in addressing some of these barriers. Organisations such as the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) have supported survivors to reduce some of the costs associated with pursuing justice. However, such interventions cannot reach every survivor or cover every district across the country. Access to justice should not depend on whether a civil society organisation is available to provide financial assistance.

The responsibility to provide accessible and effective forensic services rests with the government. Sexual violence occurs in both urban and rural communities, and survivors should not face unequal chances of obtaining justice simply because of where they live.

The government must take urgent steps to decentralise sexual violence evidence collection services and ensure that survivors can access timely forensic support closer to home. Health Centre III and Health Centre IV facilities should be appropriately equipped and supported to collect, preserve and refer evidence in accordance with professional standards. Health workers, police officers, prosecutors and other justice actors should also receive regular, specialised training in survivor-centred care and evidence handling.

Improving access to forensic services at local level would reduce delays, lower costs for survivors and investigators, and increase the chances of successful prosecution. It would also help prevent the loss or deterioration of time-sensitive evidence and demonstrate a commitment to ensuring that every survivor has equal protection under the law.

Justice should not depend on a family member or police officer being able to travel hundreds of kilometres to access a service that is essential to proving a crime. A survivor in Mayuge deserves the same opportunity for justice as a survivor in Kampala or anywhere else in Uganda.

The government must act to ensure that sexual violence evidence collection services are accessible throughout Uganda. Without these reforms, many survivors will continue to face a second injustice: the failure of the very systems meant to protect them and hold perpetrators accountable.

The author is a lawyer at the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD).

Aug 15, 2026Aug 15, 2026 Featured, News

13th Annual CEHURD Moot Court Competition: Moot Problem and Instructions Now Available

The Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) is pleased to announce that the Moot Problem and accompanying Instructions for the 13th Annual National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition are now available.

This year’s competition is themed:

“Reproductive and Gender Justice in Uganda: Navigating Constitutional Rights, Public Interest and Social Values.”

The competition provides an opportunity for law students from participating universities to engage with critical constitutional questions at the intersection of reproductive and gender justice, constitutional rights, public interest and social values in Uganda.

CEHURD appreciates all universities that have registered to participate in this year’s competition and looks forward to the thoughtful legal analysis, advocacy and debate that the competition will bring.

We wish all participating universities and students the very best as they prepare for the competition.

The Moot Problem and Instructions are available here –

PROBLEM FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL NATIONAL INTER-UNIVERSITY CONSTITUTIONAL LAW MOOT COURT COMPETITION Download

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CEHURD 13TH ANNUAL MOOT COMPETITION 2026 Download

#13thCEHURDMoot2026

Aug 10, 2026Aug 15, 2026 Article

The Clarion Call: How we can end Hepatitis B as an ecosystem focusing on prevention

By Kizito Khalid Ssekabembe

According to World Health Organization, “Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. The virus is most transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, in early childhood, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections or exposures to sharp instruments. The WHO estimates that 240 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2024, with 0.9 million new infections each year. In 2024, hepatitis B resulted in an estimated 1.1 million deaths, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer).

In Uganda, approximately 1.845 million Ugandans are chronically infected with the virus and liver cancer caused by HBV contribute 5.1% of all cancer deaths.

According to the 2016 Uganda Population based HIV Impact assessment survey, prevalence of Hepatitis B infection among adults stands 4,3% (5,6% among men and 3.1% among women). The survey indicates that Hepatitis B prevalence is highest in Northern region with 4.6% in mid North ,4.4% in Northeast and 3.8% in West Nile. Hepatitis B infection was lower in the rest of the country with a range of 0.8% in the Southwest region to 2.7% in East Central region.

Laws and Policies on Right to Health and Hepatitis B in Uganda and gaps that need to be addressed.

Although the constitution is not so clear on the right to health, there are laws and policies that have been put in place: Uganda guidelines for prevention, testing, care and treatment of hepatitis B and C virus 2024, Public Health act 2023, National immunization Strategy (2024-2028), immunization act 2017, public health rules 2014.

Gaps that need to be addressed

Financial gaps: financial disparity needs to be given attention because financial allocations are more given to HIV than Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B remains underfunded despite its high disease burden. Financing structures must be reevaluated for purposes of equity and fairness.

Implementation and sensitization: there is an urgent need to bridge the persistent and sensitization gaps in Uganda’s public health response to Hepatitis B. While the Uganda guidelines for prevention, testing, Care and treatment of Hepatitis B 2024 offer a robust framework, a disconnect between these clinical standards and public understanding. The government must effectively engage the public by educating high risk groups such expectant mothers and sex workers on Hepatitis B prevention and procedures.

Human rights and stigma protection on Hepatitis B patients: government policy must protect the rights of Hepatitis B patients and one of the ways should be guaranteed confidentiality by strictly enforcing medical confidentiality laws, workplace equality like banning mandatory screening at places of work to prevent unfair termination or exclusion.

The battlefield as an eco-system our focus being prevention

Since hepatitis B is incurable, we can work on control and prevention as our mode of fighting, one of the ways we can do this to make sure we do regular checkups.

Diagnosis: This involves the steps that your health care professional takes to find out if you have hepatitis B. Your healthcare professional gives you a physical exam and looks for symptoms of liver damage. These symptoms can include yellow skin and stomach pain. Tests that can help diagnose hepatitis B or its complications are Blood tests that can detect the hepatitis B virus in your body. They can also tell your health care professional if the infection is acute or chronic. A simple blood test also can find out if you are immune to the condition this is according www.mayoclinic.com

Vaccination: hepatitis B is preventable with a vaccine. All babies should receive hepatitis B as soon as possible after birth (within 24 hours). This is followed by two or three doses of hepatitis B vaccine at least four weeks apart. Hepatitis B can be passed from mother to child. this can be prevented by taking antiviral medicines to prevent transmission, in addition to the vaccine shortly after birth. The pentavalent vaccine to infants at 6,10 and 14 weeks. Adult vaccination may also be offered as long as there is no evidence of chronic infection. This vaccine should be given at 0,1and 6-month intervals.

Public campaigns and addresses especially among the Youth on Hepatitis B prevention, especially on regular condom use: To effectively eliminate the spread of Hepatitis B, we must promote safe sex practices such as consistent condom use. The phrase of ‘’eating a sweet in polyethene bag ‘’ is a commonly slang term used by young people to express that using condoms reduces sexual pleasure and intimacy during sex. Public health campaigns frequently fail to address this mindset because they heavily focus on clinical facts rather than addressing consistent use of condoms.

Currently public health awareness is overwhelmingly focused on HIV but it’s high time we also intentionally focus on Hepatitis B. Targeted intervention is urgent in transit and the areas around Busega and Nateete are well known hubs for nighttime, trade, transport and informal businesses which correlate with high levels of commercial sex. Introducing focused Hepatitis B awareness and its prevention is essential in these communities and many other communities.

According to the world health organization we should also avoid sharing needles or any equipment used for injecting drugs, piercing or tattooing, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after coming into contact with blood, body fluids, or contaminated surfaces and get a hepatitis B vaccine if working in a health care setting.

Conclusion

The World Health Assembly called for governments and populations to take action to prevent diagnosis and treat viral hepatitis. Globally, 90% of people living with viral Hepatitis B and C do not know they have it, leading to an average of 3000 deaths every day. It is important to remember that the fight against Hepatitis B cannot be won in isolation, we must recognize that eliminating this disease requires a fully integrated ecosystem rather than leaving the government to carry the burden alone.

The Author is a Lawyer and an Intern as Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD).

Jun 11, 2026Jun 11, 2026 Featured, Jobs

Consultancy Service to Conduct a Project Baseline Survey

The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) invites applications from qualified consultants to conduct a baseline survey for its project, “Addressing Persistent Challenges and Barriers for Women’s Physical and Mental Health in Six Districts in Uganda Using Tested Legal, Community Empowerment, and Research Approaches (2026–2028).”

The baseline survey will be conducted in Kamuli, Mayuge, Mukono, Buikwe, Arua, and Yumbe districts and will establish benchmark data on women’s and girls’ access to justice, physical and mental health services, accountability mechanisms, referral systems, and community participation. The findings will inform project implementation, monitoring, and measurement of outcomes throughout the project period.

The consultancy is expected to run for approximately 60 days between July and August 2026. The selected consultant will report to the Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL).

Application Deadline 30 June 2026

Interested applicants should submit their applications to support@cehurd.org in accordance with the Terms of Reference.

For inquiries, contact:

Richard Muganzi, Director of Programmes – muganzi@cehurd.org
Ogwang Christopher, Head of MERL – ogwang@cehurd.org

Download the Terms of Reference for full details on the assignment, requirements, and application process.

Call for project baseline survey Download

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#13thCEHURDMoot2026

A Reflection on the CEHURD Moot Court Competition

Male Action Groups: Bringing HIV and TB Case-Finding Services Closer to Men in Uganda